Each weekday morning my alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m. On the weekends it rings at 6:30 a.m. Either way getting out of bed isn’t that tough at the early hour because I always look forward to where I’m going- Spin Class.
Why? Staying sober is always easy, but I definitely credit exercise with helping me do so.
Without a doubt, it has been a driving force in my peace of mind. It provides a stress release that before I thought only alcohol could deliver.
When I am angry or sad, I find that when I get my body moving negative feeling don’t have as strong of a hold on me.
When I first got sober, I was so full of anger about not being able to drink, I’d just go on long runs to get all that pissed-off-ness out. Anger was a feeling I wasn’t used to- sad and isolated I had down- but anger was new.
And I could feel anger coming on, it would literally boil up. It was this nasty angry adrenal rush that I wanted out of my body. Going into my room and screaming would work, but when started running I realized it worked even better.
I started small, running about two miles, but like any good addict, that was never enough.
One day I went out for a 5-mile run and did 10. Running helped me clear my head and exhausted my body. It was exactly what I needed.
In my first few years of sobriety, I ran every day and did a few half marathons. I even got pretty fast, my personal best was 1 hour and 45 minutes for the Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, which went down the Vegas Strip at night. It was actually pretty amazing race all around.
But a few years ago I got a pinched sciatic nerve during a St. Patrick’s Day half marathon. I could barely walk, so pushing through the pain wasn’t an option and I had to take some time off from running.
I never gave up cardio, I but was sidelined to the stationary bike per the doctor’s orders. During that time I realized running had become less joyful and more of a chore. I started to explore other cardio options and found spin a few months after. I’ve been hooked ever since.
I’m not saying all this because I think everyone should spin.
I know- I’ve tried to recruit endless friends and family members with no luck.
But I do believe there are a lot of benefits to a regular cardio program, especially for people in recovery.
Many of us are dealing with emotions for the first time as adults. My experience was when I felt something uncomfortable; I’d just drink it away. When I got sober, I suddenly had to deal with all of these feelings. Cardio has helped me work through things instead of brushing them aside. It’s been a positive release.
I am grateful that the body I put through hell and back is still capable of amazing things, despite my desperate attempts to destroy it during my addiction.
So now I kick up my intensity during my workout instead of throwing back an extra few shots. The payoff is far greater this way!
